[Idiom] Phrase for someone who drives in front of someone else making sure there is no police

[Oskarka]

Hi guys,

I am struggling to find a suitable phrase to convey the meaning of someone who acts as a controller - driving in front of someone else so as to make sure the road is clean - no police or anything suspicious whatsoever.

It's for a translation and it refers to someone who is involved in smuggling people - bad connotation.

In my language we say road-cleaner/controller but it does not sound right in English.

Any native/near native speaker, pls help. Any suggestion is highly appreciated!

Thanks,
Natasha

 

[GilesEnsor]

I'm not going to be much help but I don't think there is such a word. I did a google and bing search too just to check, and found nothing.

 

[Oskarka]

Thanks Giles, I did google myself too but I didn't come across anything suitable. I guess I have to improvise and coin something new

 

[SoothingDave]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_and_the_Bandit

They call it a "blocker" car in this article about the famous movie. The reference would be to American football, where a blocker clears the way for the ball carrier to move freely.

The cops chase after the speeding Trans Am and ignore the truck with its illegal cargo.

 

[Rover_KE]

I guess I have to improvise and coin something new. [STRIKE][/STRIKE]

Please don't use a home-made emoticon to replace a standard punctuation mark.

I you want to insert a smiley, click on the icon.

 

[Oskarka]

Sure thing, Rover! I'm a newbie here, so good to know.

 

[riquecohen]

Do you think "lookout" would be appropriate in that context?

 

[SoothingDave]

Do you think "lookout" would be appropriate in that context?

I thought of that, but it's more than just looking out. A lookout seems to be stationary to me as well.

A "decoy" or someone "running interference" are other possibilities.

 

[Oskarka]

"Decoy" fits perfectly! Thanks everyone for the help. Great start here! :-D

 

[SoothingDave]

"Scout" is another possibility.

 

[emsr2d2]

Surely the car in front would only act as a decoy if the police (or other authority) were encountered. They would then be somehow encouraged to follow/chase the front car in order to allow the other car through. The first post did not suggest that was the case. The car in front was only supposed to look out for the police.

 

[Oskarka]

You make a point, I was not clear enough. The way it's described in the original language though is a literary "car-cleaner", so my guess is that the car in front is there to make sure the car in the back is safe. What would the first car do in case of encountering police or other authority is nowhere described but I suppose that the driver would try to distract the police and thus clean the road for the really suspicious car.

 

[lotus888]

How about auto/convoy escort?



--lotus

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Please don't use a home-made emoticon to replace a standard punctuation mark.

I you want to insert a smiley, click on the icon.

If you don't want to insert a smiley, do this:

=O]

 

[tedmc]

How about auto/convoy escort?
--lotus

Or just an escort?

not a teacher

 

[MikeNewYork]

Charlie, Rover has already advised against that. Just let it be.

 

[iamalearner]

How about "an accomplice escort"?

 

[Rover_KE]

That's highly unlikely.

iamalearner, please read this extract from the forum rules:

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post.